Rising author Mia Marlowe continues her brand-new Regency series with adventure, controversy, and most importantly, sizzling seduction...
John Fitzhugh Barrett is surprised to discover that instead of being a bastard, he’s the legitimate heir to the Somerset marquessate. Once word gets out that he must continue the Somerset line, eligible bachelorettes from across the country descend upon Somerfield Park, hoping to snatch John up before it’s too late. But John has no interest in a woman who’s only after his title.
Rebecca Kearsey, the daughter of a threadbare viscount, is the only one who understands. However, as her desire for John begins to build, she becomes painfully aware that she isn’t considered grand enough by Polite Society to be a future marchioness. Intrigued by the idea of challenging society’s rigid values, John’s interest in Rebecca grows. But can she show him that love is more than just childish rebellion?

Summary

Rebecca Kearsey is a daughter of a baron, a baron that is low on funds, and society looks on her with disdain. She knows what its like to not be excepted. While out with her maid, she gets taken and kidnapped and taken to a underground fighting ring, and the winner will have her at his pleasure. What she doesn’t expect is to have the winner, be none other, than a man she admires, John Barrett, a man recently to become a lord, but the stigma of rumors of him being a bastard, despite it being untrue….holds a taint to the members of the Ton. John is attracted to Rebecca, she sees him in a very real way that not even his own family sees him, and when there is a opportunity to court her at a house party that his grandmother is hosting…he takes advantage. This will be his one opportunity, and soon John and Rebecca begin a courting dancing, and soon the desire they feel for each other just might ignite if they aren’t careful…

The Hero

John is a hero that I really admired and liked. He grew up poor in a cottage, but had a loving and kind mother, that got treated poorly by his grandmother. When its discovered that he is heir to the title, he is shocked, and he is brought into a world, of scandals and where he is hard pressed to find acceptance…except for a group of men that are the most despicable rakes…but he considers them his friends. John is not the man he used to be, but when he meets Rebecca his world changes, and he wants to be what she needs. What I find most endearing about John’s character, is how human he seemed. Not fake or near perfect, he had many rough challenges in his life, hadn’t made the best decisions, but at the heart of his character he was honorable and loyal.

The Heroine

Rebecca, is the daughter of a poor baron. A baron that can’t help but gamble away their funds and land. They have only the bare necessities, and funds to pay for the doctors for her mother who is sick. Rebecca has no prospects or suitors, and she isn’t respected by other members of the Ton. Rebecca is a heroine that I grew to really like…she had the inner strength I admired. I loved how she faces challenges and doesn’t back down when she gets threatened. She is devoted to John, and is very accepting of who he is, and I loved how open she is to others, and isn’t like other members of the ton and judge by rumor, but by personal connections with those persons.

Plot and Story Line

Never Resist A Rake is a charming romance that I liked even better than the first book. And I really loved the first book, but this story felt a bit more engaging to me. This is a story that may seem like your average romance, but it had certain qualities to it that separates it from other regency’s I have had the opportunity to read. For starters, the opening scene, we see it begin with a fighting match, totally scandalous and illegal…and how often do we see this type of scene in historical romance??? NEVER…that is right Ladies and Gents…hardly ever…so just the beginning scene alone sets it apart from anything else. Another aspect that I quite enjoyed, was how well these two got along and instantly connected and accepted the love they felt for each other the moment it happened. Neither of them went into denial or tried to stave it off…they openly accepted it and each other and that was very refreshing. What was also a bit fun…was that these two had already met before, we don’t see this scene, but we get a decent description of what happens…and they definitely had chemistry…even as strangers before they meet. The supporting characters were quite fun including the villain (this villain is like a wolf in sheep clothing…the characters in the story don’t see how truly demented he is until the end…but as the reader…no worries you see how depraved he is, and that just creates more thrills for you to enjoy). But we get the lovely Dowager Countess who can be trying at times, but very entertaining, I love the way she tries to “manage” her grandson and just fails each and every time. Then we have the brother Richard and is his wife, who were the couple in the first book. What I found most endearing about these two is how protective they are of him and tries to keep the Dowager under some control. This story is sweet, engaging, and passionate.

The Cover

You know I am a big fan of pink especially on historical romance covers…and this one totally works for me. I love the flirty sense we get from it, I really like the grin the gal has on the cover…like she knows a secret and won’t tell. And look at that gorgeous dress…I want it.

Overall View

Never Resist A Rake is a tale of redemption and finding your own path, its a story that is paved with adventure, mystery, flaming desire and a poignant romance…TOO DELICIOUS TO RESIST!!